Executive Director - Keys To Living

Meet Keys to Living

Keys to Living is a faith-based counseling organization based in Cedar Rapids with an additional office in Iowa City, Iowa, dedicated to bringing hope and healing to individuals, couples, and families. Founded in 1980, the center provides professional mental health and emotional support through in-person and telehealth services. The organization’s mission is to offer professional counseling from a Christian perspective, addressing challenges like anxiety, depression, trauma, marriage struggles, and life transitions. By cultivating a warm, safe, and nonjudgmental environment, Keys to Living empowers clients to overcome life's difficulties and thrive within their God-given potential.

The organization's services are designed to be accessible, clinically sound, and biblically grounded. Clients receive care from licensed professionals who integrate evidence-based mental health treatment with a faith-based perspective, utilizing the wisdom of Scripture alongside clinical therapeutic models. While their approach is deeply rooted in a Christian worldview and therapists offer prayer for clients who desire it, they warmly welcome and respectfully serve individuals from all backgrounds and belief systems. By combining clinical excellence with spiritual care, Keys to Living aims to provide holistic support that leads with grace and truth rather than just spiritual platitudes. 

At its core, the heartbeat of Keys to Living is characterized by a profound commitment to servant leadership, humility, and mutual respect. The organization operates as an equal playing field, fostering a close-knit, collaborative staff culture where therapists and support staff genuinely care for and encourage one another. Through a robust internship program that raises up the next generation of counselors and a strong partnership with local church networks, Keys to Living functions as a trusted, vital resource in the community, ensuring that lasting emotional and spiritual healing is available to all.

About the Executive Director

Reporting to the Keys Board of Directors, the Keys Executive Director will have overall strategic responsibility for Keys to Living staff, programs, expansion, and execution of its mission. The Director will develop and maintain a deep knowledge of the counseling field, core programs, operations, and business plans in order to provide knowledgeable oversight. The Director will also maintain an appropriate client load in addition to other duties.

The Executive Director must be in full agreement with the mission, vision, values, statement of faith, and By-Laws of Keys to Living, and be willing to hire and maintain staff who share these same commitments based on our core focus of providing counseling from a biblical perspective. 

This is a full-time position requiring the individual to live in the Cedar Rapids area, have and maintain a professional counseling license from an accredited program, is qualified and able to provide clinical supervision as needed for therapist staff, and has significant experience as a therapist. In addition, proven skills at leading teams and developing a business are expected for this position. If licensed in another state, the individual should be willing and able to get the necessary credentials in Iowa.

The Executive Director's responsibilities include:

Executive Leadership

• Provide leadership and strategic direction to the organization consistent with its mission, vision, and values. 
• Develop, implement, and monitor organizational policies, procedures, and practices.
• Oversee the recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and training of all Keys staff.
• Cultivate staff morale and a strong working relationship with the staff. 
• Supervise the Operations Executive, ensuring efficient operational performance and compliance with organizational policies. 
• Ensure compliance with all legal, ethical, and accreditation standards applicable to mental health practices (including HIPAA). 
• Engage legal advice when appropriate.
• Prepare and monitor the organization’s annual budget. 
• Oversee and monitor A/R, revenues and expenses.
• Monitor billing department and related vendors in collaboration with Operations Executive.

Clinical Leadership

• Provide leadership and supervision for Keys therapists to promote best practices and professional development. 
• Manage a personal caseload of clients, and associated documentation. 
• Stay updated on emerging trends and evidence-based practices in mental health to integrate them into the organization’s clinical programs. 
• Provide guidance on complex cases as needed, fostering a collaborative and supportive environment for therapists. 

Relationship with the Keys Board of Directors

• Report directly to the Board of Directors, providing monthly updates on organizational status highlighting accomplishments, issues and progress toward goals. 
• Collaborate with the Board to establish long-term goals and strategies. 
• Attend Board of Director meetings as a non-voting member.
• Serve on Board committees as requested, contributing expertise to decision-making processes. 
• Ensure the Board has access to the information and data necessary to fulfill its governance responsibilities.

Relationship with the Eastern Iowa Community

• Interact with outside vendors and outsourced service providers.
• Act as the public face of the organization, promoting its mission and values in professional and community settings. 

What you bring

The following describes many of the characteristics of the ideal candidate for the Executive Director:

Education and Experience

• Master’s or Doctoral degree in counseling, psychology, social work, or related field.
• Active, unrestricted license to practice therapy (LMFT, LISW, LMHC, or equivalent).
• Minimum of 5 years of clinical experience and at least 3 years in a leadership or administrative role.
• Experience working in a nonprofit or faith-based setting preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Clinical Practice & Documentation: Active capability to provide therapy, manage a personal counseling caseload, and maintain accurate clinical documentation.
• Clinical Supervision: Ability to provide clinical leadership, case guidance, and supervision to licensed therapists, post-graduate temporary licensed counselors, and interns.
• Mental Health Expertise: Comprehensive knowledge of the counseling field, including the ability to stay current on emerging trends and evidence-based mental health practices.
• Faith Integration: Skill in integrating professional therapeutic models and clinical excellence with a biblical worldview and Christian perspective.
• Human Resources Management: Proficiency in overseeing the full cycle of recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and training for all organizational staff.
• Operational Oversight: Ability to direct efficient daily operations, manage billing departments, and oversee outsourced service vendors in close coordination with the Operations Executive.
• Strategic Planning & Governance: Skill in developing, implementing, and monitoring strategic business plans and organizational policies in direct collaboration with a Board of Directors.
• Financial Administration: Strong financial acumen required to prepare and manage the annual budget, as well as monitor revenues, expenses, and accounts receivable.
• Development & Funding: Knowledge of fund development strategies, grant writing, and donor relations to support organizational initiatives.
• Regulatory Compliance: Thorough understanding of state, legal, ethical, and accreditation standards applicable to mental health practices, including strict adherence to HIPAA.
• Community Relations: Strong public relations and communication skills to act as the organization's representative and build strategic partnerships with local churches, stakeholders, and community leaders.
• Technological Adaptability: Capability to thoughtfully navigate, assess, and lead the integration of new technologies, such as AI, within therapeutic and legal compliance guidelines.

Personal Characteristics and Qualifications

• Spiritually Mature & Prayerful: Possesses a deep, passionate walk with Christ, consistently relying on prayer and trusting God to guide their leadership.
• Humble: Exhibits a humble learning spirit and operates without arrogance, viewing the workplace as an "equal playing field" rather than a rigid hierarchy.
• Approachable & Personable: Maintains an open-door policy, making themselves accessible, inviting, and safe for staff to approach with issues or questions.
• Compassionate Shepherd: Possesses a shepherding heart, genuinely caring for others, and walking alongside the team with kindness and a nonjudgmental attitude.
• Even-Keeled & Intentional: Exhibits a stable and balanced demeanor, remaining calm, avoiding rushing, and maintaining composure in leadership.
• Decisive & Wise: Demonstrates strong intuition, discernment, and spiritual wisdom to confidently navigate and guide the team through complex or difficult situations.
• Collaborative: Values teamwork over independence or isolation, and is highly willing to seek out, listen to, and apply feedback from staff and the board.
• Encouraging: Naturally acts as a "cheerleader" for the team, calling out individuals' strengths and making staff feel deeply valued.
• Curious: Shows genuine interest in getting to know the staff on a personal level, while also being inquisitive about the broader community and how to connect with it.
• Ethical & Integrity-Driven: Deeply committed to high moral standards, consistently leading with a balance of grace and truth in both their personal life and professional practice.
• Joyful & Relatable: Brings a sense of humor to the workplace and avoids being overly rigid, closed-off, or easily offended, which is highly valued by the current staff.

What it's like to live in Cedar Rapids, IA

Living in Cedar Rapids feels like finding that perfect, comfortable balance where you can truly have it all. It’s large enough to offer all the conveniences, cultural amenities, and career opportunities you’d expect from a major hub, yet it maintains that genuine, wholesome Midwestern charm that makes you feel instantly at home. You’ll find yourself with a full social calendar if you want one. Between the local theater, live music, college events, and a great minor league baseball scene, there’s always something happening. Plus, because of our central location, you’re just a reasonable drive away from cities like Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City, or St. Louis, while our own local airport makes connecting to the rest of the country incredibly easy.

Beyond the activities, there is a real peace of mind that comes with living here. It’s the kind of place where you still see kids riding their bikes around the neighborhood, giving it a safe, family-friendly atmosphere that is harder to find these days. We get to enjoy all four seasons while taking full advantage of the beautiful topography, from local lakes to the hundreds of miles of bike trails and golf courses. It’s a city that allows you to slow down just enough to enjoy your life, without the constant headache of traffic or the frantic pace of a sprawling metropolis.

What really stands out, though, is how accessible everything is, both professionally and financially. It’s a fantastic place to build a career because you can actually get in front of the local and state business leadership without all the typical barriers you’d face elsewhere. In Cedar Rapids, you aren't just choosing a place to work. You’re choosing a community where you can thrive, connect with friendly people, and actually enjoy the life you’re working so hard to build.